Holdback-hook for vehicle-shafts.



No. 730,618.1 l PATENTBD. JUNE 9, 19o-3.

LA. DoNALDsoN y Y OLDBAGK lHOOK PQR VEHICLE SHAPTS. minuntos Puma un, s, ma;

Il) MODEL.

. No. veo, 61s.

UNITED STATES A,

Patented June e, 1903.

JAMES A. DONALDSON, OF GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

HOLDBACK-HOOK FOR VEHICLE-SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,618, dated J une 9, 1903.

Apparition ne@ naar 3,' 1903.

.the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to horse-detaching devices, and particularly to holdbaok or breeching hooks for use in connection with devices for detaching the traces of a horse from the swingletree.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple, neat,and inexpensive device of such character which will prevent detachment of the holdback or breeching so long as the horse is harnessed for driving, but will easily allow the holdback to be detached from the shafts when the tracesare released from the swingletree.

In the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specification, Figure lis a side view of my improved device; and Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly in section, and with dotted lines indicating the mode of detachment of the holdback.

My improved device consists principally of an elongated plate or block mounted on the vehicle-shaft, having a forwardly-projecting hook which is engaged by a ring or loop at the end of the holdback or breeching strap,

vsaid loop being normally retained on the hook by a spring-pressed tongue or finger located in a slot beneath the hook. Two of such devices are of course employed, one on each shaft.

The letter A denotes the said plate or block, having suitable apertures for the fasteningscrews at its ends and having rising there- Jfrom and integral therewith a shortforwardlyprojecting hook B, the front part of which curves slightly downward, so as to leave a slight npcurve at the back part of the hook. This hook is engaged by the ring or loop C Serial No. 145,900. (No model.)

at the end of the holdback-strap. Beneath the hook the plate or block A has a longituio dinal slot, and lying therein is a tonguepor finger D, pivoted at its front end and having its rear end spring-pressed upwardly ont of the slot and against the ring or loop C. A dat spring E is here shown, secured by a screw e to a recessed under side of the plate or block directly'beneath the base ofthe hook B. The rear extremity of the tongue D is preferably notched or beveled, as at d, and the loop C is confined between such notch or 6o beveled part and the upcurved part of the hook, While a shoulder d is left directly in front of such notch or beveled part to hold the loop back in place on the hook. W'hen the traces of the horse are released from the 65 swingletree and the horse moves forward, the i loop C pulls 0E the hook, riding over the shoulders d and depressing the tongue, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. I thus provide a very simple and inexpensive de- 7o vice, which is also attractive and neat in design and which is eflicient in use, preventing the loop from slipping od the hook except when the holdback-strap is pulled forward, when it slips off very readily.

It will be observed that the upper edge of the tongue constitutes a gradual incline, by means of which the tongue can be easily depressed and the loop easily placed on the hook, while the notched or beveled part d, 8o which lies above the pivot ofthe tongue, also permits the tongue to be depressed very easily when the loop is pulled oft the hook.

Having thus fully described my invention, vwhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The herein-,iescribedv holdback device, consisting of an elongated plate or block, adapted to be mounted on a vehicle-shaft, and having ashort hookV rising therefrom and pro- 9o jecting horizontally forward, over which hook aloop or ring on the breeching may be passed;

a longitudinal slot in said plate underand in front of the forwardly-projecting part of the hook, a tongue lying therein pivoted at its forward end, and' a dat spring under said tongue pressing it upward with its upper! In testimony whereof I afx my signature edge above the top surface of said plate, saidin presence of two witnesses. upper edge being gradually upwardly inclined rearward and slightly notched or bev- 5 eled at its rear end to accommodate and con- Witnesses:

fine the loop or ring between such rear end A. H. BURNETT, and the back part of the hook. H. E. HOENE.

JAMES A. DONALDSON. 

